CU Correspondent
Awareness campaign highlights prevention through pre-marriage testing
BRF Youth Club of Chittagong University observed World Thalassaemia Day on Friday (May 8) with a free blood grouping programme and awareness campaign at the university’s shuttle train station.
Blood donors were also registered for thalassaemia patients during the event.
Club President Niaz Makhdoom said thalassaemia is a hereditary blood disease and patients must survive on regular blood transfusions from donors. “There are nearly one lakh thalassaemia patients in Bangladesh. We are working to serve these patients within our capacity,” he said.
He added that thalassaemia is a completely preventable disease. “If two thalassaemia carriers marry each other, there is a high chance their child will be affected. Carrier status can be confirmed through a haemoglobin electrophoresis test. So everyone should get tested before marriage,” he said.
General Secretary Azizur Rahman Abdullah urged healthy individuals to come forward and donate blood. “Thalassaemia patients depend on blood donated by others to survive. BRF Youth Club is trying its best to stand by thalassaemia patients through blood donation,” he said.
BRF Youth Club regularly works with university students on blood donation, thalassaemia patient services, library management and climate change awareness.